The Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC renew their Cascadia Cup rivalry in a game with massive postseason implications as the clubs face off Saturday evening at Jeld-Wen Field. The Timbers are still in a tie for second place in the Western Conference, coming off a 2-1 loss at the San Jose Earthquakes last weekend. Whitecaps FC are holding onto a tie for fifth place and the final postseason spot in the division, despite a late 1-0 home loss to Philadelphia Union last weekend, ending their unbeaten home record.

Whitecaps FC took the lead in the 24th minute. Timbers midfielder Will Johnson fouled Camilo just outside the area on the right, and he took the resulting freekick himself, curling it over the wall and into the top right corner.

The Timbers pulled even in the 62nd minute. Will Johnson created the penalty with a shot that struck Andy O'Brien's arm as it bent goalward, and then took his own spot kick and leveled the score.

But moments later, Vancouver again nosed in front. This time Gershon Koffie bent a shot into the top right corner of Donovan Ricketts’ goal after Camilo teed him up at the edge of the area.

Ten minutes later, Whitecaps FC went up a man when Futty Danso appeared to bring Camilo down as they both chased down a ball over the top toward the Portland goal.

Yet the Timbers had the final answer. Jose Adolfo Valencia ran under Will Johnson's high, hopeful ball and and brought it under control before cutting back past a defender and slotting home coolly past Brad Knighton.

PORTLAND TIMBERS
The Portland Timbers suffered their second loss in four matches, falling 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday evening at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Timbers are in a tie for second place in the Western Conference with 34 points from 21 matches.

LAST MATCH

The Quakes took the lead 10 minutes into the second half. Shea Salinas saw his slaloming run ended in a collision with Timbers center back Andrew Jean-Baptiste, and the resulting penalty kicks was converted by center back Victor Bernardez, who sent goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts in the opposite direction.

The lead was doubled three minutes later when Salinas delivered a free kick from deep on the left wing to the far post where Steven Lenhart slipped in behind the Timbers defense and touched the ball home with a sliding poke.

The Timbers pulled a goal back late when Darlington Nagbe was set free by a nifty back-heel assist from Frederic Piquionne and slotted home from 14 yards.

Timbers head coach Caleb Porter made two changes to the team that played to a scoreless draw with Philadelphia Union at PPL Park. Ben Zemanski and Rodney Wallace came into the team, in place of Diego Chara and Frederic Piquionne.

After going more than three months without a defeat, the Timbers have now lost twice in their last four matches.

“We weren’t as far off in the performance as it might seem,” Timbers head coach Caleb Porter said. “So we’ll keep it in perspective. We certainly had plenty of chances in the game. In my opinion we had far more quality chances than they did. But that’s soccer.”

The Timbers have also gone winless in their last five contests away from Portland, but have taken points from three of those games.

“I think with this team and the results we’ve gotten coming from behind, you always think there’s a chance,” Porter said. “I can’t fault the guys’ effort, but in the end we were a couple plays away. We had the chances to level it but the ball didn’t fall.”

The Timbers allowed two goals for the first time since June 8, a span of seven games. The Timbers have not allowed more than two goals in a game since their season-opening 3-3 home draw with New York.

“On the defensive side we had a few lapses,” Porter said. “We gave away a counter attack, didn’t do a good job on the damage control and gave away a penalty kick. And then on the set piece, we weren’t focused and they played a quick restart and we got punished.”

Frederic Piquionne collected his fifth assist of the season, all of which have come over the last nine matches. Piquionne also has his lone MLS goal in that span, and also had five goals and an assist in three Open Cup games over that time.

“What went well is that we had a ton of chances to score goals and it’s always positive when you’re creating those chances,” Portland defender Michael Harrington said. “Unfortunately, we weren’t sharp with those chances and didn’t take advantage of it. We didn’t stick the ball in the back of the net.”

Rodney Wallace returned to the Portland lineup after missing three matches while on CONCACAF Gold Cup duty with Costa Rica. He’s made two league appearances over the last eight contests.

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC suffered their second loss in as many games, Philadelphia Union scoring the game’s lone goal for a victory Saturday afternoon at BC Place. Whitecaps FC sit in a tie for fifth place in the Western Conference with 32 points from 21 matches.

LAST MATCH

Whitecaps FC were a man down just eight minutes in, midfielder Jun Marques Davidson headbutting Keon Daniel in the back and prompting referee Baldomero Toledo to reach for his red card.

Union finally took advantage with five minutes to play. Antoine Hoppenot took a nice backheel pass from fellow substitute Aaron Wheeler and burst into the box before firing past goalkeeper Brad Knighton.

Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie made no changes to the team that lost 2-1 to the LA Galaxy on Saturday evening at StubHub Center.

Whitecaps FC suffered their first loss of the season on their home ground, going 7-0-3 in their first 10 league games at BC Place. They were the last team in MLS to lose at home this season.

“We’ve had a lot of good nights, a lot of great results and it‘s disappointing to lose that undefeated record at home,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Martin Rennie. “I feel like even with the 10 men, we put enough in the game to at least preserve that record. And it was disappointing to not have that now. And it’s something that we have to quickly bounce back from.”

Said goalkeeper Brad Knighton: “We prided ourselves on being undefeated at home. We’ve worked eight months for this. We’ve made this place a fortress over the last six months. It’s a tough one. I felt like we had our chances today and just didn’t take them.”

Just three minutes before the game-winning goal, center back Brad Rusin was forced to come off with a knock.

“I thought he was playing very well. When you’re down at 10 men, your center backs have to defend well. And I thought both Johnny Leveron and Brad were defending well,” said Rennie. “It was just one of those nights, where it seemed that anything that could have gone wrong, did go wrong. He got a knock on his hip. We lost our center back … hopefully Brad will be fine.”

For a fourth consecutive match, 10 of the 11 Whitecaps FC starters were the same, as only wingers Russell Teibert and Corey Hertzog had changed in that time.

“We’ve been on our best form in Major League Soccer with that lineup. We’ve been playing well, winning a lot of games, especially at home. So we felt it was right to stick with it, the same players,” said Rennie. “And for the most part, I thought they did well again for us today. Just because we lost to LA you don’t want to change the whole thing, it makes sense to give those players another chance. You know I think that was the right decision.”

There will be a change as Jun Marques Davidson will be suspended for the Portland match after being sent off after just eight minutes.

“The obvious pivotal point in the game is early on in the game when Jun Marques gets sent off,” Rennie said. “He reacted in a way he shouldn’t have, he made a mistake, and ultimately we paid the price for that, because I thought we played well after that.”